Front high speaker type

New to the site and forgive me if this has been addressed previously. I have a choice of placing monpole or dipole speakers up as front high's.

 

I am leaning towards the dipoles. Is this the wisest option and will give the best results?

thank you

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20 Comments

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    Audyssey Labs

    Hi Rob,

    DSX Wides and Heights should be direct radiators, not dipoles.  They are not considered surround speakers and are called to reproduce direct sound as well.

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    rob stog

    Thank you Chris. I will exchange my surround back mono speakers with the dipoles and put them in the front. With that said, I may have another problem to solve with the rear placements.

    My back wall comprises mainly of a window. So to help picture this wall, I have approx 2 feet, 600mm of plaster then 10 feet of window and then another 2 feet of wall. The window is covered with a thick curtain and somewhat large palmut on top. The right side wall is all wall and the left again another series of smaller windows. All windows are about 6 feet, 1800mm high.

    So my fear is that he window coverings will absorb or hinder the dispersion of sound. Am I correct in thinking this?

    I do however have about a foot to 1.5 feet of unobstructed plaster wall the runs the length of the back wall as well as the sides. Would it be better to mount these dipoles at this height?

    Appreciate your advise.

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    rob stog

    Sorry forgot to mention the unobstructed wall space is above the window so positioning would be say 7+ feet high. My main listening position is probably 10 feet in front of these speakers. Also these speakers are located in the corner of the back wall

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    Audyssey Labs

    Hi Rob,

    Are you referring to the main surround channels (in 5.1) or the Back Surround channels (in 7.1).  In 5.1, the surround dipoles need to placed along the side of the listening position so they are at 90° to your ears.  That points their null at you (thus diminishing the direct sound) and lets them bounce sound from the front and back.  The Back Surround speakers in 7.1 are much less important and can be either direct or dipoles.  Placing them up high is fine.

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    rob stog

    I was referring to the surround backs n 7.1 thanks

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    Sotiris

    Hi there I'm new to the home theatre game and I have a question about front presence speakers pls… Can I use bipole speakers as front presence speakers and can I ace them on the side walls to gain the appropriate width measurement… thanks and I look forward to your. Comments…

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    rob stog

    As Chris has stated, use the dipoles for surround purposes as the front presence are direct.

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    Audyssey Labs

    Hi Sotiri,

    If you are referring to speakers that are to be used with Audyssey DSX as Wides or Heights then, as Rob said, they should be direct radiators.  The surround speakers should be dipoles.  However, the term Presence Speakers is used by Yamaha for their DSP modes that usually include reverb and other effects.  If this is what you are asking for it's probably best to ask Yamaha directly as I don't know what they recommend.

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    Michael J Lang

    Chris,

    Building a new theater, it at 'studs status' now and I can place speakers in exactly the 'right' positions.

    My question:

    The height speaker is to be at 45 degree lf /rt and at a 45 degree elevation.

    To calculate the forward position of the speaker along the 45 degree 'site' line using the 45 degree elevation rule is the point of reference my ear (at seated height) or a point on the floor?

    This will place the speaker in the ceiling either 6 ft forward along the 45 degree site line assuming a 9 ft ceiling and a 36 inch ear height or 9 ft along this line if we use the floor as a reference.  What's best?

    Mike

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    Audyssey Labs

    Hi Mike,

    I would not recommend moving the Height speakers forward on the ceiling.  The best placement is on the front wall and as high up as possible--even if that is not exactly 45° elevation.

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    CHANDRA

    Chris,

    I am shopping to buy my front wide and front height speakers. As you said they need to be bookshelves and direct radiators. I am a klipsch fan and own mostly klipsch. I am new to the term "direct radiators". Could you suggest a klipsch speakers which I can use as front height and wide speakers? (I have klipsch surrounds RS52ii). Alternatively I could buy POlk also if there is nothing in klipsch.

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    Audyssey Labs

    Hi Chandra,

    I am not able to make equipment recommendations.  Direct radiators are speakers that are not dipoles.  Klipsch has many such speakers at different price points as do all other speaker companies.

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    david.dowell

    hi i was trying to find out if u can have dipole in the back and high fronts as well ?my receiver is a onkyo 7.2 ch 608

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    Audyssey Labs

    Hi David,

    The Heights and Wides should not be dipoles for best results with Audyssey DSX.

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    Wynn V

    Hello Chris,

     

    My question is the distance from center for the high fronts.  45 degree from center left and another 45 degree from center right? Or 45 degree total from left to right?

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    Audyssey Labs

    Hi Wynn,

    You can see a diagram here.  The Heights are spaced at ±45° from the Center and should be placed on the front wall as close to the ceiling as possible.

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    Masud Haneef

    Hi Chris,

    Has anyone tried wiring three speakers across the front for the heights (left, right AND a center)? I know direct radiators are preferred but I'm intrigued by the idea of a center direct radiator with two side dipoles for front heights.  Thoughts/experience?

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    Michael J Lang

    Chris,

    Back to the question about height speaker placement in my new theater.

    In my room is 17' wide by 19' deep.  I will be seated 12.5' from the front wall.  If I place the height speakers as high on the front wall as possible and all the way to the lf and rt corners it would yield  21 degree elevation and a +/- 34 degree spread (assuming a 3' seated ear height).  This isn't even close to your recommendations of +/- 45 degree and a 45 degree elevation. Can't I do 'better' by putting the speakers on the ceiling on +/-45 degree site lines and then bring the speakers towards the listening seat along this line to get a larger angle of elevation? 

    If not, why do you recommend +/-45 degree and 45 Degree elevation for your height speakers?  What kind of real world room accommodates such angles if "The best placement is on the front wall and as high up as possible-" is ALSO a recommended constraint?

    Yours in Audio

    Mike

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    Audyssey Labs

    @Masud a center Height will take away from the intended experience that DSX is trying to create especially if wired to mix LH and RH content.  We don't recommend it.

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    Audyssey Labs

    @Mike

    The setup will be fine as you describe it.  The 45° elevation is not really practical in most rooms.  It's better to have the speakers up as high as possible on the front wall rather than moving them closer along the ceiling.

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